Godliness? Holiness? Righteousness? All wrapped up in the word "Blameless"!

Godliness - “a proper response to the things of God, which produces obedience and righteous living.”

"Put simply, godliness is living a fruitful, obedient Christian life" Dr. David Jeremiah

The Oxford definition of righteousness is “the quality of being morally right or justifiable,”  So, righteousness is the condition of being proven or declared morally excellent, while holiness is the condition of being consecrated or dedicated to moral excellence.

Christ-followers should focus their effort on pursuing holiness in conduct, attitude, and thought.

Go and sin no more! A call to be "Blameless"

Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you. Now go, and sin no more.

Blameless? God's ultimate call to Righteousness.

Definition of Blameless: innocent of wrongdoing.

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

"The quality of blamelessness is both a positional benefit of salvation and a moral character to be achieved."  William E. Brown (Bakers Evangelical Dictionary) 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith: Has 2 forms. The word “Believe” is essential for both.

 Gen. 15:6 "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him Righteousness.

1. Imputed Righteousness called Justification: by Grace
Righteousness as a “status”, not a quality of religious/moral perfection.

This righteousness “is a righteousness that we receive from God.” it means we are in a right relationship with God when we simply receive the imputed obedience of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith.

Romans 5:18-19 “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

2. Applied Righteousness called Sanctification: by Faith
Righteousness as an “Act of Faith” (Trust and Obey).

This righteousness is an act of trust and obedience that, by faith (See Faith Session), is put forth in our day-to-day relationship with the Holy Spirit. To live Coram Deo is to live one’s entire life being aware of the presence of God, submitting to His guidance, all for the glory of God and His Kingdom…

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work* of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” *present, future continuous tense

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” –

Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” –

Phil. 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

These two forms of Righteousness are reflected in the “Complete Gospel” by the words “Savior” and “Lord”.

The Gospel of “Salvation” and the Gospel of the "Kingdom", which Jesus preached and demonstrated, make up the Complete Gospel. Gospel means "Good News".

“You are saved (2Timothy 1:9). You are being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18). You will be saved (Romans 5:9-10)”*

STRENGTH & POWER = Blameless?

The Strength of Being Blameless. 

BLAMELESS:  /ˈblāmlis/

adjective:    innocent of wrongdoing.

Knowing no accusation is true. Being free of guilt. Allows the possibility of being regret-free.

Caution

Guilt is a function of the spirit. You can "reason" away your sin (the mind), but guilt remains.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (RSV)   For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show his might on behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him.

2 Samuel:23-25 (RSV)      For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes, I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

Psalm 119:2–3.  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3. who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 

WE CAN ONLY BE BLAMELESS IF AND WHEN WE ARE 

WALKING BY FAITH AND BEING SPIRIT-LED

The Power of Repentance.

metanoia (repentance)

Original Word: μετάνοια, ας, ἡ

Part of Speech: Noun,

Transliteration: metanoia

Phonetic Spelling: (met-an’-oy-ah)

Short Definition: repentance, a change of mind

Definition: repentance, a change of mind, change in the inner man.

Here is the verb form:

metanoeó: to change one’s mind or purpose

Original Word: μετανοέω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: metanoeó

Phonetic Spelling: (met-an-o-eh’-o)

• Short Definition: I repent, change my mind, change my ways
• Definition: I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.

REPENTANCE: Acknowledging the accusation and accepting responsibility, with (Godly) sorrow that leads to a desire for forgiveness and reconciliation/restoration of relationship.

accusation. [ak-yoo-zey-shuh n] noun.  1. a charge of wrongdoing; imputation of guilt or blame.

2 Corinthians 7:9 (ASV)   I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Adam and Eve in the garden

1 John 1: 5-6 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

potential

1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.
2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR IDENTITY it is important to understand that God sees us from a perspective of our potential. He knows who He created us to be.

It is this potential that is the foundation of His love, commitment, long-suffering and hope for us.

With insight and understanding of our God-given potential, He rebukes, chastises, encourages and disciplines us with exhortations of humility, honesty, and demonstrations of unconditional love.

He calls us to be over-comers, blameless, willing to admit our mistakes, dependant on His guidance. Willing to serve His purposes. In this light, we should make our decisions! When seeking God’s Will we shouldn’t be asking what does God wants me to do. We should be asking who God wants me to be. It is then He will show us who we are.

Happiness vs Joy

Happiness is reaping the fruit of your labour. Joy is knowing you stand blameless before the Lord of Eternity even when there is no fruit.

"Now" is the time for Joy and happiness. It can also be the time of regret and dread.

It all depends on who you trust and obey.

Blameless?

What does that mean?

When I first became a "christian" it was one of the first words that God spoke into my life that I was aware of.

"Be blameless"! It was in context to the current situation then. At the time, my first wife had left with my two kids and was pursuing another relationship. I was convicted of my own complicity in the situation and God said stop giving her reasons to justify her actions. Regret was the overwhelming emotion at the time. It was one of the reasons I "called on the Lord" in the first place.

This "regret" was the result of living a life as I saw fit and God was telling me that to be free of regret I needed to be blameless in all my relationships. It seemed simple enough. At least in concept. Just trust God to guide me in what I say and do and no one will be able to blame me for how things turn out. Yeah, right.

The issues...

• You have to really seek out and pay attention to the Holy Spirit's guidance. There are a lot of reasons we don't do that.
• People tend to blame others for their predicament. Mostly because we give them a reason.
• The enemy is constantly running around making accusations in our minds and in the minds of those around us.

I have come to realize "I am to Blame". But in that realization God's love covers my complicity and by the Blood of Christ I am forgiven. In the same realization I am called to "Trust in Him with all my heart and not trust in my own understanding. To recognize His presence in everything I do, and he will guide me on the path that leads to no regrets" Proverbs 3:5-6.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/blameless.html

You are Becoming?

There's no getting around it. Change happens. Mostly deterministic. Everything is becoming something other than what it was. What it is, is not what it will be.

You are swept along by the interaction of mass and energy. But choice affords an alternative to determinism.  The truth for you and me, Christ died for us.

Now will you choose the Lover of your Soul? Because of what He did, you have a choice.

Humble & Dependant

Dependant, Blameless and Repentant

Now is not a time to prepare for the future. To equip our youth with biblical principles of leadership and strategies to evangelize the nations. Now is the time to call our youth to a humble, dependant, day to day, walk with God. Where Proverbs 3:5-6 is the operative state and the goal is to be blameless and live repentantly. (Power & Strength is needed)

Tarry until and Occupy (A.B. Simpson)

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

Not great skill or knowledge or learning. Not position or riches...

The Beatitudes!

Adam & Eve walked with God.
Enoch walked with God and God took him.
Elijah walked with God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV) 16.These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Question: "What does the Bible say about repentance? What does it mean to repent?"

Answer: The word repentance in the Bible literally means “the act of changing one’s mind.” True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about one’s sin. It involves more than merely turning away from sin. Eerdmans Bible Dictionary includes this definition of repentance: “In its fullest sense it is a term for a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future.” https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-repentance.html

Cause and Effect (As in "Swept along in the Now")

Cause and effect creates a flow within an inertial frame. Have you ever felt like you were in a rut? This flow tends to take the same path if free will does not exert a choice. The choice is hidden by a lie that presents unworthiness and concludes condemnation. And rightly so if we accept the flow.

Hope presents a promise and says, “you choose” 1 Corinthians 10:13 The choice is simple but most difficult. We can stay in the flow and trust in our own understanding or we can choose to trust the Lover of our soul and begin to see who He created us to be. The truth sets us free as we trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

Cause and effect appeals to self-interest. There the tension is manifest. The enemy clouds the truth that self-interest is ultimately fulfilled in giving.

Cause and effect if left alone ultimately will result in degradation, the second law. Life can overcome that degradation by accepting the truth that Hope offers. Choose the author of life and be an overcomer.

Have you ever thought, I just wish someone would tell me what to do? Have you ever wished someone would show you the way you should go?

“I am the way, the truth, and the light”
Jesus Christ

Most likely you’ve believed, as I did, that you have it within you to succeed. The problem is what you define as success.

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. 

~ George Santayana ~ 

Remember the past? Each of us has a history. We reminisce with those we shared the past with. Remember when we say. Progress is not found there.

Our history viewed with clarity reveals the struggle. A struggle that gives us insight. The insight brings us to the realization that it is not within us to progress.

Come to an end of yourself. Humility is the fertile ground of a teachable heart. Allow the Lover of your soul to blast the light of truth into the darkness of your history to reveal the plan He has had for you from the beginning. He has one goal, to share himself with you.